Bridge. Peach Garden - Classic Library

Author: Fei Ming
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-08-01
Features: Fei Ming's novels are unique. In the early 1920s, when he first published works like The Story of the Bamboo Grove under his real name "Feng Wenbing" (beginning in 1926, he adopted the pen name "Fei Ming"), he primarily drew inspiration from the simple characters of his hometown. The compassionate and hardworking laundress struck by rumors (Laundry Mother), the old man who earns a living by performing wooden puppet shows and loves the willow trees in front of his door (Willows on the River), the quiet and beautiful young girl San Niang (The Story of the Bamboo Grove), the father and daughter who rely on each other (The Peach Garden), and the deaf field laborer who gathers lotus roots (Lotus Pond)—these characters form his initial "rural world." Fei Ming's significance at the time was demonstrated by his impact on the realistic "rural novels" and his contribution to the "rural literature" pioneered by Lu Xun. The pastoral scenery of an alienated world, combined with a melancholic tone, has had a profound influence. This book selects only his novels, but in fact, Fei Ming's poetry, prose, and novels are all interconnected. Especially The Bridge, which is frequently included in various prose collections. The short stories are selected from various collections. As the northern proverb goes, "There will be a feast after the feast," and "Good food is not afraid of being late." Waiting is not without reward. It is believed that the complete collection, which includes all of Fei Ming's published and unpublished works, will provide future generations with a true understanding of a complete Fei Ming, understanding his lifelong, relentless effort to "Chineseize" modern literature.
Fei Ming (1901–1967), originally named Feng Wenbing, was a member of the Yusi Society and followed the style of Zhou Zuoren. In literary history, he is regarded as a representative of the "Beiping School." The Story of the Bamboo Grove, published in 1929, is his first novel collection and belongs to rural literature. Fei Ming's representative works include the long novel The Bridge and The Legend of Mr. Must-Be-There and Mr. Must-Be-There After Riding an Airplane. The latter two reveal a satirical tone toward the absurdity of reality through their poetic pursuit. Fei Ming's novels are known for their "prose-like" style. He introduced Zhou Zuoren's literary concepts into the realm of fiction, blending Western modernist techniques with the stylistic elements of classical Chinese poetry and prose. His writing is concise and profound, combining simplicity and austerity with sharpness and eccentricity. This unique creative style is celebrated as the "Fei Ming style" and had a certain influence on later writers of the Beiping School, such as Shen Congwen. Even in Wang Zengqi of the 1940s, one can find his shadow. This book selects only his novels, but in fact, Fei Ming's poetry, prose, and novels are all interconnected. Especially The Bridge, which is frequently included in various prose collections. The short stories are selected from various collections. As the northern proverb goes, "There will be a feast after the feast," and "Good food is not afraid of being late." Waiting is not without reward. It is believed that the complete collection, which includes all of Fei Ming's published and unpublished works, will provide future generations with a true understanding of a complete Fei Ming, understanding his lifelong, relentless effort to "Chineseize" modern literature.